I need some more info on Cape Cod. How many days should we allot to see all of the Cape? Also would two days be enough to see Marthas Vineyard and one day for Nantucket? One other question-should we take Cape Air from Boston to MVY then take a ferry to Nantucket and then a ferry to Hyannis and rent a car in Hyannis and tour the Cape or should we rent a car in Boston-drive to the Cape and leave the car there and take a ferry to MVY. Also do you take suitcases on the ferry? any ideas will be a great help.

Have I missed the date you plan to travel or have you already returned? I can certainly help you with this but I need to know dates.

Hi Jean,

I am also going to Chatham in November, and am getting worried about the things I'm reading about Boston traffic. Is it really *that* hard to get from Logan out to the Cape in a rental car? I was even considering getting a taxi to get us past all that, then getting a rental car somewhere on the outskirts of Boston. Any thoughts? We arrive just before noon on a Friday, and I'd like to be able to arrive at Chatham before dark

Hope you don't mind me jumping in - hopefully we all can use the info.

Thanks!

Pamela

Pamela- It sounds like your plans have come together for your Chatham trip. Yes you are right that traffic is bad in Boston and Friday is a tough day but you will be FINE driving from Logan to Chatham. You just need to secure good directions from the rental company and get yourself through the tunnel and onto the expressway and then follow the signs for Rt 3 South and Cape Cod. You will go over the Sagamore bridge and follow Rt 6 to exit 11 for Chatham. You may need to allow some extra time for traffic. But if you get your luggage and your rental car secured by 1pm you should easily be in Chatham by 4pm (5pm at the latest!). You could take a cab or shuttle bus to Braintree but that may not really save you any time and may bet confusing.
In your last posting you didn't mention if you wanted to go to Nantucket- if so take the ferry from Harwichport- leaves at 8am and returns at 5:30pm- great way to see the Island for a day.
Good Luck!

If $$ is not an issue.....go for plan "a"! Take the Cape Air flight and ferry around Nantucket and HYA. It also depends upon what time you arrive at Logan. Pamela is arriving at the most perfect time...anytime after 2pm on a Friday and you will be stuck in the tunnel first, stuck on the central artery second and then stuck all the way down to the expressway. (and you haven't even hit the rotary at the Cape or bridge yet!!) I work at Logan and live on the South Shore and know from very personal experience! Timing is everything. The ferries are great...you just need to have a reservation in advance if you plan on bringing a car. There is parking at the ferry and you can bring suitcases on the boat. Hope this helps!

Thank you all so much. I'm pretty adventurous and can usually get around just fine if I have a good map handy, but all this talk about Logan and the Big Dig has me a little spooked. But since my timing seems to be right maybe it will be okay. I'll just look at it as another of my many travel adventures.

Now, if Midway can just hang in there with their Boston flights through November...I have nonrefundable tickets and can't make any changes (to a different carrier) until/unless they actually cancel the flight. More "adventure".

Thanks again! Pamela

Oh, dear, Pamela,

Midway, huh? I'd be ready to act quickly, since the terms of their line of credit application only extends 60 days from last week. They aren't paying employees, their tax bill, or their airport fees. The Boston route is one of their most successful, but they've already cut one of the roundtrips. American and USAir Express are major competitors on that route -- but USAir Express is facing a strike in Oct., so it's shaky.

If I were you, I might consider gambling the $180. it now costs to book an American seat (they only use those small Embraers). If you end up with two usable tickets, you'd have the American ticket plus $100 penalty for a trip later on. It's a gamble -- depends on how important it is that you get to Boston. (Or you can always drive to WashDC and take the train.)

Chatam is wonderful, although I have not been there for sometime. If you get a chance and will be dining out give the Impudent Oyster a try!

TarHeel,

Yes, I'm concerned about what's going to happen by November. But I really hate to spend another $180, and then have to pay the $100 change fee if Midway ends up flying. I'm in Raleigh, and Midway has the best choice of flights to Boston by far. What a mess.

Any ideas on how to find out what's *really* happening with Midway? I haven't called because I hear the lines are all busy and hold times are hours long. Can you explain more about the 60-day thing you referred to?

Thanks!

Pamela

To Pamela:

You will be fine renting a car at the airport and driving to Chatham. My mother and I did the same thing a couple of months ago and we had no problems at all. (We're not TOO used to big city traffic, either).

Oh, and in Chatham, eat at Pisces, a small restaurant that used to be a home. The food is great and service/ambiance can't be beat!

Pamela,
You will have no problem in November driving from Boston to Chatham. Traffic is worst between June and Sept. The private ferries to the islands from Harwich Port and Hyannis do not operate after late October (except for HyLine's fast ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket) and to get to Nantucket or M. Vineyard you have to take the Steamship Authority ferries from Hyannis or Woods Hole.

I do understand your fears about driving from Bostom to Chatham. And the Big Dig. I did it a year ago.

I still have a vivid memory of my driving my parents out of Logan's rental lot. My Dad was holding on for dear life as I attempted to get us out. We still laugh about it today. But it was fine and we survived without a scratch.

In November, you won't have a problem once you get out of Boston. It's easy driving the rest of the way. Enjoy Chatham, because you will love it!